Show Parliamentary Precedent A curious illustration of the etiquette of the house of commons is furnished by the absence of the speaker Mr I Peels place is taken by the deputy speaker Mr Mellor who Is also chairman chair-man of the committees But the deputy speaker is not entitled to the honor of heading the procession which opens the days proceedings by the installation installa-tion of the mace When the procession reaches the door of the house the doorkeeper door-keeper who usually cries Mr Speaker on the approach of that gentleman now cries The Mace That instru ment of sovereignty is duly deposited at the table by the deputy sergeantat arms In the absence of Mr Ersklne Then Mr Mellor slips quietly and meekly Into the speakers chair and Archdeacon Farrar who has been Archdecon waitIng wait-Ing at the bar advances for the purpose pur-pose of reading prayers The whole Incident In-cident is an entertaining instance of the stern regard for parliamentary precedent Illustrated London News |